New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-13
COSTLY COAST DEFENCES'
,,,r,sg EXPERTS IDEAS ON FORTlflCA-
o" TIONS.
THE GUN OF THE FUTURE TO DE "o"n.D
WIZ rIrcTRIc1rY- INSTEAD "
Observation-Disclosures MIS-
TAKE ITALY HAsMADE
rpv cABLy TO THE TRIBUNE.f


rpY CABLE TO THE TRBUNk'i
.o,,noS Ian "A 1-"The Times OF MondaS pun
,,.,oa on article on the reports OF the ohl'eu
C,ates BOARD ON FortifCat.Ons In which, "ni0
commending tho u,oroushness OF the h'ceoie~
t,ons the writer disapprOves the recommeho"VWn'
of the Board on the ground OF The cosU VI 'N'
proposed fortihcatlons. -. e4or,;ro Is
aOyer twenty seven million pounds sternns ~
rt of all proportion to the defensive roquiie
ments of the United States" says the wrlter' 70.
one fifth of the sum England could ra1se nc, Vo".'
dcsenees the world over to standard Oh ei''o,nN'
which would probably satisfy uie hioeV eN"e .t
.,'.nn,s.sn . ymr correspondent showed the arti-
o,o 70 Sir Andrew Clarke, formerly Inspector
Gsncral Of Fortifcations. and one OF the highest
authorities on coast defences in England.
81 entirely agree with the writer, whom
,,;rl, 7 recognize" said Sir Andrew "Such costly
forti6cations belong to the old school "ouiu
do away with them altogether IL is an open
secret that Italy regrets having expended so huon
money On Notifications. Germany is simply WIFI
ing to see what England does"
.But would not the proposed fortifcations rem
der the ports so defended practically secure against
onv attack by sea p asked the correspondent.
"Probably but by different system they coula
be defended much more efficiently and at lnini.eS
,ess cxpense. My plan does away with all fortiii-
nrinciple is invsibility Of defences. "hen you
erect enormous Notifications you offer target 1or
the enemy's shot. Let your turrets and cupoiss
he never so thick heavy shot Is likely to play the
mischief with their mechanism. WNh your dls
tinruished count ryman, Lieutenant MaAlm' nave
worked out what call disappearing gun sSs-
tenn which can be applied to the heaviest guns
made. This renders Notifications unnecessary
The gun occupies hole in the ground when III
action 1t is raised by sort Of hydraulic elevator
and after firing sinks into the pit again 10 DC re
loaded. Thus 1t is exposed for only few SECONDS
When in the pit it only be hit by Vertlca
nr pluneing fire. and the likelihood of such shot
striking their mark is infinitely small covered
ways shelter the men who load the gun SO Una
the enemy has practically nothing to aim at
pun operated in this fashion commands mucf
wider area than when mounted In fort. B,
means of electricity the gun can be raised, low
ored trained and discharged by one man in a 20
sition of safety a hundred yards or even milk
AWAY. This has been actually accomplished. W.
are at work on plan whereby machinery ior io"o
,nr the gun can also be operated by electricity
IT this is successful the gun can be wholly WORKED
from safe distance
"Wbcn YOU can dispense with fortifications yo'
have more money for heavy guns. submarine
mines and torpeaos Heretofore have vehement
,v urged the colony OF Victoria Australia to bull'
mn moro forts | believe such costly defences VII
coon he REGARDED as obsolete in defensive war are
The United States derives great advantages iron
her distance from Europe because the difficulty
of using first class ironclads SO far from thel
bases is very great"